Aleks Milenov Petkov (Bulgarian: Алекс Миленов Петков; born 25 July 1999) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Polish club Śląsk Wrocław, which he captains, and the Bulgaria national team.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Aleks Milenov Petkov | ||
| Date of birth | 25 July 1999 | ||
| Place of birth | Sofia, Bulgaria | ||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Śląsk Wrocław | ||
| Number | 5 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2008–2016 | Cherno More | ||
| 2016–2017 | Heart of Midlothian | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017–2020 | Heart of Midlothian | 0 | (0) |
| 2018 | → Berwick Rangers (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | → Clyde (loan) | 14 | (0) |
| 2020 | → Brechin City (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2020 | Levski Sofia | 12 | (0) |
| 2021–2023 | Arda Kardzhali | 61 | (2) |
| 2023– | Śląsk Wrocław | 41 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2016 | Bulgaria U19 | 1 | (0) |
| 2017 | Bulgaria U18 | 2 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | Bulgaria U21 | 8 | (0) |
| 2022– | Bulgaria | 13 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:25, 12 October 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12 October 2024 | |||
Career
editPetkov began his career at Cherno More Varna and joined Heart of Midlothian at the age of 16 in June 2016, signing a three-year contract.[2]
On 22 July 2017, Petkov made his first-team debut, replacing John Souttar during a 3–0 League Cup victory over East Fife at Tynecastle Park. On 19 January 2018, Petkov joined Scottish League Two side Berwick Rangers on loan until the end of the season.[3] He made his league debut in a 2–3 home loss against Peterhead eleven days later, playing the full 90 minutes.
During the 2019–20 season Petkov was loaned to Clyde and Brechin City.[4]
On 8 September 2020, Petkov returned to Bulgaria, signing a 1-year deal with Levski Sofia.[5]
On 6 July 2023, after a two-year stint at Arda Kardzhali, Petkov joined Polish side Śląsk Wrocław on a one-year contract, with an option for another two years.[6]
International career
editPetkov made his debut for the Bulgarian under-21 team on 22 March 2019 in the starting eleven for the friendly against Northern Ireland U21.[7] He earned his first cap for the senior national team on 26 March 2022, coming on as a substitute during the second half in the 1–2 loss against Qatar in a friendly match.[8] On 16 November 2023, he scored an own goal in the 97th minute in the penultimate match of the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying against Hungary.[9]
Personal life
editHis father Milen Petkov was also a professional footballer and Bulgarian international.[10]
Career statistics
editInternational
edit- As of match played 12 October 2024
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulgaria | 2022 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 7 | 0 | |
| Total | 13 | 0 | |
References
edit- ^ Alex Petkov Stats
- ^ "Talented youngsters join club". heartsfc.co.uk. 15 June 2016.
- ^ "Irving returns, Petkov loaned out". heartsfc.co.uk. 19 January 2018.
- ^ "BRECHIN BRING IN PETKOV". SPFL. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- ^ "ПФК Левски подписа с Алекс Петков". levski.bg. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Aleks Petkov piłkarzem Śląska Wrocław" (in Polish). Śląsk Wrocław. 6 July 2023.
- ^ "България U21 отстъпи с 0:1 в контролата със Северна Ирландия U21" (in Bulgarian). bfunion.bg. 22 March 2019.
- ^ "Груба грешка ни попари в Катар, "лъвовете" вече 19 мача без успех далеч от дома" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ^ UEFA.com. "Bulgaria-Hungary | European Qualifiers 2024". UEFA.com. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ^ "Милен Петков пред БЛИЦ: Получихме шокираща оферта за сина ми, още треперя!". Blitz.bg/sport.
External links
edit- Aleks Petkov at Soccerway